New Tool Deploys Crowdsourced Data for College Searches

A new online tool, College Raptor, is designed to help students and their families make better decisions about which college to attend using crowdsourced data.

College Raptor builds a portfolio of options for students based on an estimation of their chances of acceptance. The tool's cost estimates include tuition, fees, room and board, grants, scholarships and transportation.  The data for those cost estimates is frequently updated by information from candidates and colleges. College Raptor has information on every four-year school in the United Staes, according to information released by the company.

The tool is also designed to help students pick a school based on academic and cultural fit and provides information about majors, programs and rankings.

"With the number of college applications that students submit growing every year, there is an increased need for transparency that results in better information about college options before decisions are made," said Richard Ferguson, co-developer of the platform, in a prepared statement. "College Raptor helps students discover schools that are likely to be a good fit to their academic skills and interests, both of which are key to college completion. At the same time, it provides colleges with technology-rich tools that enable them to attract and enroll applicants who are both academically ready and financially able to succeed and, ultimately, graduate."

For more information, visit collegeraptor.com.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

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